# High frequencies break glass? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472 "2003-01-18T15:26:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dunmurry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d2c977/32.png) [@Dunmurry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunmurry)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472/1 "2003-01-18T15:26:29Z")
There was an experiment on the television a few weeks ago in which a woman with a high-pitched voice tried to break a drinking glass by screaming. A glass was held a few feet from her, and she sang with a very high-pitched voice, so loud it was almost painful to listen. After a few seconds the glass shattered. I assume that there was no trickery on the part of the television station, as it all looked real. I had never seen this before, and was wondering if it was uncommon. Is it possible for a glass to break if there is a high-pitched scream near to it and if so why? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472/2 "2003-01-18T15:37:40Z")
The master speaks: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_333.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_333.html) ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472/3 "2003-01-18T18:58:38Z")
You obviously never saw the famous commerical with [**Ella Fitzgerald**](http://www.ovationtv.com/artszone/programs/ella/daze.html) and a Memorex tape. > [@](#): > > And what better scene to create than one which combined the power of the human voice (its ability to break glass); the silky smooth quality of Fitzgerald’s lovely singing; and the amazing properties of the product being sold. ---
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472/4 "2003-01-18T19:57:51Z")
For those who lack the vocal range to do this trick temselves, there is always the infamous [beaker breaker.](http://www.physics.umd.edu/deptinfo/facilities/lecdem/services/demos/demosh3/h3-61.htm) ---
**Author:** ![MadScientistMatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@MadScientistMatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadScientistMatt)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472/5 "2003-01-18T20:07:29Z")
The actual pitch depends on the shape of the glass. I’ve seen large sheets of glass cracked by very low frequency notes. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472/6 "2003-01-18T23:31:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MadScientistMatt \* > \*\*The actual pitch depends on the shape of the glass. I’ve seen large sheets of glass cracked by very low frequency notes. \*\* If the pitch of the note hits a resonant frequency of the glass, and continues, the glass will quite likely break. The resonant frequency depends upon shape, thickness, size and the elastic properties of the glass material. The resonant frequency of the glass can be found by wetting a finger and running it slowly around the rim. After the right wetness is achieved you get a nice clear tone from a thin, high quality glass. ---
**Author:** ![bbeaty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@bbeaty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbeaty)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472/7 "2003-01-18T23:58:33Z")
MEMOREX WAS FAKED? The story I heard (back in the 70s) was that Ella couldn’t break the glass, so Memorex helped things along by shooting it with a BB gun. Is there any evidence at all that an UNAMPLIFIED human voice can shatter glass? If you play 100 watts of pure sine wave through a one-inch pipe which is held close to a wine glass, you CAN shatter the glass. This suggests that the singer would have to put their mouth very close to the glass if they wanted to break it (otherwise the sound pressure would be much weaker, inverse square law and all.) But if I remember the Memorex commercial, Ella didn’t hold the glass up to her mouth. Instead it was several feet away. If my memory is right, then this is good evidence that the commercial was faked (at least the part about a singer breaking glass, as opposed to a loudspeaker/amp/microphone doing it.) ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472/8 "2003-01-19T05:02:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bbeaty \* > \*\*MEMOREX WAS FAKED? The story I heard (back in the 70s) was that Ella couldn’t break the glass, so Memorex helped things along by shooting it with a BB gun. > > Is there any evidence at all that an UNAMPLIFIED human voice can shatter glass? > > \*\* I would think a trained opera singer might just do it if the precise note could be struck. [frivolry]I do remember a funny scene in which an opera soprano knocked Victor Borge right off his piano bench. So he picked himself up, sat down and pulled a seat belt out of the bench.[/frivolry] ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472/9 "2003-01-20T05:23:52Z")
**bbeaty** , you obviously did not notice or else did not follow the link I made in my post concerning Ella Fitzgerald and Memorex. If you go to my link you will find: [ul][li]a link to a site explaining how glass can be broken by sound[/li][li]an explaination of how Memorex may have fudged, but not faked the facts.[/ul][/li] > [@](#): > > Consider these facts, and then come to your own conclusions: > [ul] > [li]The physics behind the Memorex commercial is simple, and solid [_]Once a frequency is found that can break a particular glass, it must be repeated exactly, to have its effect [_]Variables of loudness, frequency, and distance from the glass are easily controlled when working with a recording.[/ul][/li]In this scientific demonstration, might a recording be far easier to work with than a live voice? As to the story you heard back in the 70’s could we have a **cite**? Please. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472/10 "2003-01-20T05:28:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by David Simmons \* > \*\*[frivolry]I do remember a funny scene in which an opera soprano knocked Victor Borge right off his piano bench. So he picked himself up, sat down and pulled a seat belt out of the bench.[/frivolry] \*\* And how many people do you think will recognize who Victor Borge is? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472/11 "2003-01-20T05:37:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by David Simmons \* > \*\*[frivolry]I do remember a funny scene in which an opera soprano knocked Victor Borge right off his piano bench. So he picked himself up, sat down and pulled a seat belt out of the bench.[/frivolry] \*\* And how many people do you think will recognize who **Victor Borge** is? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![bbeaty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@bbeaty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbeaty)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472/12 "2003-01-20T07:58:10Z")
> [@](#): > > As to the story you heard back in the 70’s could we have a cite? Please. 🙂 Let’s do it this way: I doubt that a human being could break a wineglass by singing at it. Is there any evidence that someone has EVER done this? If not, then I refuse to leap to conclusions not based on evidence. Yes, if you use a microphone and amplifier then that’s totally different. I first saw articles about this in THE PHYSICS TEACHER back in the 1970s. With a few hundred watts going through a single driver, I bet that even I could shatter a wineglass with my amplified voice. ---
**Author:** ![bbeaty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@bbeaty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbeaty)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472/13 "2003-01-20T08:07:02Z")
> [@](#): > > bbeaty, you obviously did not notice or else did not follow the link I made in my post concerning Ella Fitzgerald and Memorex. I did. I saw nothing about Ella breaking a glass using her unmodified unamplified lungs and throat (no power amp, no loudspeakers, no nothing.) All the demos in the physics magazines show that it’s trivial to break a glass using a loudspeaker and amplifier. The Memorex ad seems to be about the singing of a perfect pitch, not about shattering a glass using JUST your vocal chords. I suspect that most anyone can break a glass by using a microphone, amp, and transducers capable of 500 watts or so, and an Ella F. isn’t needed. Hmmm. I wonder what the shattering glass looks like if you view the Memorex ad frame by frame. Will cracks start near the rim where the maximum oscillation is? Or will they “star” outwards from a particular point, as if hit by a pellet? ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472/14 "2003-01-21T05:50:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kniz \* > \*\*And how many people do you think will recognize who **Victor Borge** is? 🆒 \*\* Well, **kniz** , this is the internet. Anyone can type _Victor Borge_ into the “Search” box and get the answer. Anyone who isn’t curious enough to find out about this exceedingly funny guy is the loser. So there! ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472/15 "2003-01-21T05:56:53Z")
I knew who Victor Borge was even without searching. Does that count for something? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472/16 "2003-01-21T06:07:26Z")
Victor Borge may not be able to break a glass with his voice, but I always bust a gut laughing when I see him. ---
**Author:** ![MSU\_1978](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@MSU\_1978](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MSU_1978)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-frequencies-break-glass/149472/17 "2003-01-21T14:32:50Z")
For what it’s worth, the pitch does not have to be high. I’ve see Bowser do it with a low voice, but don’t know whether he had electronic amplification assistance.